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Here's a treat for y'all!

 
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BC Dave
Site Admin


Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 1592

PostPosted: Oct Thu 15, 2020 10:04 pm    Post subject: Here's a treat for y'all! Reply with quote

In 1976 Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons made a video for their hit, "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" in front of the Reno arch. Click here Thanks to the 'Old Reno' facebook post for making me aware of this.
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mjames1229



Joined: 23 Dec 2009
Posts: 406

PostPosted: Oct Fri 16, 2020 9:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Damn you, Dave.

I found this a few months ago, but I was going to make it a post prior to my next trip to Reno (which was supposed to be last May, then August, then two weeks ago, then cancelled).

So instead of posting it for a non-existent 2020 trip, I was going to wait until 2021 when my wife is scheduled to bowl in June.

Maybe I will do it anyway and pretend you never did...
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spdmrcht



Joined: 12 Oct 2012
Posts: 498

PostPosted: Oct Sat 17, 2020 8:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Guys that is up tite and outa Site! Way Cool! Thank you for the trip back!!
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mustangmike



Joined: 21 Dec 2005
Posts: 76

PostPosted: Oct Wed 28, 2020 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great video, but makes me sad to see all that has happened to that great Virgina Street background. Harrahs closed, Fitzgeralds closed, Harolds closed.. and demolished. Oh if I could go back in time for a weekend. Last time I checked Cal Neva's Ham and Eggs special is up to $5.99. I even miss the old Reno arch, even though in my opinion, the worst one.
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BC Dave
Site Admin


Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 1592

PostPosted: Oct Thu 29, 2020 9:43 am    Post subject: Sad indeed Reply with quote

Just to make you a bit sadder MustangMike - Here's a couple of pics from my January 1985 4 day stay in Reno.





The first pic is looking south from where my friends and I stayed the (much smaller) Eldorado Hotel and Casino. Only Circus Circus would lie to the north, but, walking south you'd pass Fitzgerald's, the Reno Hilton (later known as the Flamingo and the Golden Phoenix), The Nugget. Horseshoe, Onslow, Riverside and eventually the Pioneer Inn. Crossing Virginia Street and walking north - the Mapes (already closed), The Cal Neva, Harrah's, Nevada Club, and Harold's Club. God, I miss them. Such a tragedy.

A bit of good news though ... Cal Neva's Top Deck restaurant has a Steak & Eggs special for $4.99. I had it a year ago and it was pretty good.

As far as I know, once a year, the Cal Neva marks if's March birthday with super specials on food. Including that ole favorite, the 99 cent ham & eggs.
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mustangmike



Joined: 21 Dec 2005
Posts: 76

PostPosted: Oct Thu 29, 2020 2:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is like you pulled those pictures out of my old photo album of my first Reno trip when I turned 21 back in '89. It was a 'turnaround' tour bus trip that made two hour stops at numerous different casino, including Eddie's Fabulous 50's, Sundowner, Onslow, Virginian, Pioneer, Comstock, and Silver Club in Sparks. The bus company charged $25, with each casino giving $3 or $4 in quarters when you got off the bus making the total cost of the trip was only a couple bucks.

I miss how vibrant and lively Virginia Street was. I would wonder from casino to casino playing 21 and 'real' nickel slots (remember the grey stains on your fingers from handling all those nickels?) I would always visit Fitzgeralds 'Lucky Forrest' and getting the $1 in quarters if you showed your room key, checking the Harolds 'Birthday Board' and walking out with one of the free coffee mugs, winning Nevada Club dealer's garter when you hit a suit matching 21.

I am glad I was able to experience the 'Old' 80's/90's Reno before the mega casinos killed downtown
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BC Dave
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Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 1592

PostPosted: Oct Fri 30, 2020 3:51 pm    Post subject: More on the decline Reply with quote

It's very sad what's happened to downtown Reno's casinos, but it's important to understand the real reasons for it's decline.

Up until 1988 Nevada casinos operators were in an enviable position, being in the only state, with the exception of Atlantic city, in which casino gambling was legal. In 1988 the Reagan administration passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act legalizing Native American run casinos all over the country.

There were some bad business decisions too ie; The Mapes was closed after Charles Mapes sunk a lot of dough into "The Money Tree" casino (Later "Eddie's Fab 50's"). Things would probably have gone much better if he stuck to just running the Mapes.

Canadians (like me) used to be a large percentage of the total Reno tourist count. But, our dollar took some serious dives (at one point we could only get 66 cents US for one Canuck buck). Then state sponsored casinos started appearing all over in Canada too. Given these two factors many Canadians quit going to Reno. Flights to Reno from Vancouver and other Canadian cities just disappeared.

It should be remembered that Harold's Club was once a 'Mega' casino. At one time it was the largest casino in the USA. When I first visited in 1985 the Eldorado was just an average sized hotel/casino - No bigger than the Comstock, Sands and definitely smaller than the Flamingo. But the management of the Eldorado certainly seems to have good business sense. Over the years I've watched them invest in, expand and upgrade their property multiple times and then in 1995 collaboratively build the beautiful Silver Legacy. The Peppermill and Atlantis richly deserve similar praise.

Las Vegas is a different story. Still very successful, I think the big difference there is massive, massive investment. It's really too bad that those investors didn't see more opportunity in Reno.
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Keyhood



Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Posts: 53

PostPosted: Nov Mon 09, 2020 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The bus company charged $25, with each casino giving $3 or $4 in quarters when you got off the bus making the total cost of the trip was only a couple bucks.
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Zydeco



Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 302

PostPosted: Nov Tue 17, 2020 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks BC Dave. That was informative!
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BC Dave
Site Admin


Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 1592

PostPosted: Nov Thu 19, 2020 6:11 am    Post subject: And Thank You! Reply with quote

You're welcome Zydeco.
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Keyhood



Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Posts: 53

PostPosted: Dec Thu 10, 2020 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you for a quick trip!
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